First it was Anand. That was unexpected enough.

Then it was Aa Naluguru, that was even more of a surprise.

With both the films running to over 100 days, Raja is emerging as the man of the moment.

The compact-styled actor, who started with a success O Chinadana, is just grinning from ear to ear at the turn-around of it all.

Though having worked hard after Chinadana ( Vinayam with Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and Appudappudu with Chandra Siddharth), his career never really took off. But Anand has changed it all.

But Raja insists that he is still no raja ----or rather he is still no star. "I am a hero who has been successful in the last two films. I am still far from being a star," the self-effacing man from the unpretentious coastal town of Vizag says.

And he is thankful to Shekar Kammula for the much-needed break in Anand. Raja has had a stint in theatre and is a popular face in ad films and music videos.

Raja accepts that his career, in its initial stages, might have been hamstrung from some poor choices. "I am wiser for the experience now," he says. "I don't accept that come my way. I read the script and story. Unless satisfied, I don't sign it".

Raja also insists that he is not averse to playing negative shades in his character. "It is how you perform that matters and not what".

Raja's head may be in the heavens, but his feet are still firmly planted on the ground.